The Fine Art Show of the Smoky Hill River Festival has been recognized for 2014 as one of the top 50 Fine Art and Fine Craft Shows for art-show sales, according to the ArtFair SourceBook.
The SourceBook, (www.ArtFairSourceBook.com) published out of Nashville, TN, is an established directory that helps professional artists and artisans select the shows in which they participate and connects them to the nation’s best shows. The ArtFair SourceBook collects data from more than 1,400 events annually and ranks the country’s top 50 shows.
Over the past 37 years, the River Festival’s Fine Art Show and Four Rivers Craft Show have evolved into highly competitive venues that attract applicants from coast to coast and abroad. Over time, the two juried shows have incorporated distinctive elements, including strong pre-show advertising, a beautiful park setting, excellent artist hospitality, and strong patron support--all of which positively influence the artists who apply or return from year to year.
The shows often are compared favorably to nationally recognized events in cities including Chicago, Kansas City, Milwaukee, Denver and St. Louis. In 2013, more than $650,000 in purchases was generated in the Festival’s three Visual Arts areas of the Fine Art Show, Four Rivers Craft Show and Demonstrating Artist area.
Specific to the Festival’s Fine Art Show is the highly successful Art Patron Program that celebrates its 20th year in 2014. The Program was created by impassioned local patrons to encourage and ensure an enthusiastic buying audience for the 90-plus professional artists featured each year in the show.
These committed art buyers have strengthened the Festival’s ability to attract top artists and generate significant sales on the opening day of the Fine Art Show. Another distinctive highlight of the Art Patron Program is the Saturday-morning Art Patron Breakfast, staged in Oakdale Park’s formal gardens for 300 attendees. A complimentary gourmet breakfast for two and early show access is provided in exchange for a pledge to purchase $250 or more from the Fine Art Show during the weekend.
For more information on the Fine Art Show, the Art Patron Program or other aspects of the Smoky Hill River Festival, contact Salina Arts & Humanities at 785-309-5770 or visit riverfestival.com.

For needed accommodations, please call Kathy Burlew at 785.309.5770 between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. Every effort will be made to accommodate known disabilities. For material or speech access, please call at least five working days prior to the event.

Salina Arts & Humanities, a department of the City of Salina, has served a unique role in arts advocacy and support since 1966. The Smoky Hill River Festival, Horizons Grants Program, Smoky Hill Museum, Arts Infusion Program in schools, Community Art & Design, Cultural Connections, and Art a la Carte concert series are among the programs of Salina Arts & Humanities, located at 211 W. Iron Avenue in Salina.